Having attended every hearing leading up to yesterday, Ms Brady was in shock at McDonald's early plea at Maroochydore District Court after a year-long wait.

MacDonald appeared in Maroochydore District Court yesterday morning, by videolink from prison.

The Doonan memorial at the site where Mr Small was killed.Geoff Potter

He sat quietly behind a table, hands in his lap, shoulders slumped as he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing Mr Small's death, admitting to being intoxicated at the time and leaving the scene before police arrived.

Ms Brady had lobbied police and the prosecution to upgrade charges to murder.

Noosaville man Rod Wilcox was targeted by MacDonald and the vehicle's passenger, Corey Michael Sinclair, just before Mr Small was run down.

"Accidents happen, but there was nothing accidental about this," she said.

Sinclair pleaded guilty to common assault while adversely affected by a substance and was fined $450 and received 60 hours of community service.

MacDonald's sentencing has been delayed until May so a psychologist's report can be prepared.